The assessment team comprising PCVP Director Aaron S Williams on Monday interacted with Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Krishna Bahadur Mahara about the latest security situation in the country. US Ambassador to Nepal Scott H DeLisi and the newly-appointed USAID Mission Director to Nepal, David C Atteberry, among others, were also present during the meeting with Minister Mahara. [break]
According to Joint Secretary Sudhir Kumar Shah, spokesperson of Home Ministry, Minister Mahara said there was no security threat to resume the volunteer program in Nepal. He said that there was no security problem except in some tarai and eastern hill districts.
The US government had suspended the program on September 13, 2004, citing security threats in the wake of Maoist insurgency. The decision to suspend the program came shortly after a group of unidentified Maoist cadres detonated small bombs on the premises of USEF Building at Gyaneshwar, Kathmandu.
The assessment team is expected to make a final decision to resume the program in Nepal after interacting with other volunteer organizations.
Established in 1962, the Peace Corps has contributed to the areas of small business development, education, environment, youth development, health and HIV/AIDS, education and agriculture in various 77 countries.
The assessment team also held meeting with Foreign Secretary Dr Madan Kumar Bhattarai on Monday. The team will also meet Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Bharat Mohan Adhikari.
Altogether 84 PC volunteers were working in the field of health education, nursing, information technology, business development, teaching English as a foreign language and environmental conservation before they were evacuated.
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